Breast Augmentation
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation, also known as breast enlargement, breast enhancement, or breast implants is a plastic surgery procedure to enlarge the breasts.
Who should get breast augmentation?
If you want breast implants to increase your breast size, or to correct slightly sagging breasts or breasts that have lost volume, you may be a good candidate for breast augmentation. If you’ve had a mastectomy, breast augmentation may also be a good option for you.
What breast implants do not do is improve uneven nipples, move breasts closer together, lift droopy breasts, or get rid of stretch marks. If your breasts are seriously sagging, you may want to think about having a breast lift.
What happens before breast augmentation?
Before your breast augmentation procedure, you’ll meet with your plastic surgeon for a breast augmentation preoperative consultation. During the pre-surgical consultation, your breasts will be examined and your surgeon will discuss your breast implant options. Breast implant types, shapes, and sizes will also be reviewed (see below for a description of breast implant types). You will be given instructions about what you can eat or drink before surgery, which medications to take or to avoid, and a list of things you will need for breast augmentation recovery. During the preoperative consultation, your breast augmentation surgeon will answer any questions about your breast enhancement procedure, so come to your appointment prepared.
Types of Breast Implants
There are two types of breast implants:
- Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. The volume of salt water can affect the shape, firmness, and feel of the breast.
- Silicone breast implants are filled with a silicone gel. This type of breast implant feels and moves much like a natural breast.
Breast implant type and size are not only determined by personal choice, but also by your breast anatomy, skin elasticity and body type.
Breast Implant Leaks
If a saline implant leaks, it collapses and the saline is absorbed by the body.
If a silicone gel implant leaks, it may or may not collapse. The gel sometimes remains inside the implant, and sometimes leaks into the implant pocket. If you choose silicone gel breast implants, you will likely need to regularly visit your plastic surgeon to make sure the implants are not leaking.
What happens during breast augmentation surgery?
Most breast augmentation procedures are done under general anesthesia, which means you’ll be given drugs through an IV to put you to sleep.
Once you’re asleep, your cosmetic surgeon will make one of the following types of incisions:
- Inframmary incision (an incision made under the breast)
- Transaxillary incision (an incision made under the arm)
- Periareolar incision (an incision made around the areola)
Your type of breast augmentation incision will be based on your body type, and on the size and shape of your breast implants.
After the incision has been made, the implants will be placed either beneath the chest muscle or directly behind breast tissue.
When the breast implants are in place, the incisions will be closed with sutures, skin adhesive, or surgical tape. Breast augmentation scars will fade over the next several months.
What is breast augmentation recovery like?
After breast augmentation surgery, you should be able to go home the same day, but you will need someone to drive you. For the first 24 to 48 hours after breast implant surgery, your breasts will be bruised and sore. Your surgeon can prescribe pain medications. Your breasts may be swollen for several weeks.
The location of your breast implant scars will depend on the incision site. It will take several months for the scars to fade, and they will never disappear completely. To reduce the chances of more noticeable breast enhancement scars, carefully follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions.
You should be able to return to work about a week after breast implant surgery.
Breast Augmentation Surgical Bras and Other Support (Compression) Garments
During recovery from breast augmentation surgery, you’ll need to wear a surgical bra or other support garment. Breast augmentation recovery garments are designed to help improve the circulation of your blood, reduce swelling, and decrease recovery time. Breast augmentation compression garments will also stabilize your breast implants and keep them in place.
To purchase a breast implant support garment, go to the ContourMD® Web site. Your options include augmentation bandeaus, compression vests, and compression bras. Ask your doctor which type(s) of breast enhancement support garment is best for you.
Breast augmentation compression garments are worn continuously for several weeks, so you should probably buy more than one.
What are the breast augmentation risks?
Although breast augmentation is considered a safe procedure, all surgery comes with some risk. Breast augmentation complications may include:
- Anesthesia reactions
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Improper wound healing
- Infection
- Medication reactions
- Breast scarring
- Changes in sensation
- Severe bruising or the breasts
- Breast implant rippling (wrinkling or folding of the breast implant)
- Breast implant rupture (tearing of the breast implant)
Many breast implant complications can be avoided if you closely follow your surgeon’s instructions.
How much does breast augmentation cost?
The cost of breast augmentation varies based on a number of factors, including:
- The type of breast augmentation surgery
- Where you live
- Hospital or facility fees
- The expertise of your breast implant surgeon
Breast augmentation costs can range from around $5,000 to around $8,000.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- University Hospitals Case Medical Center